The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • 10 years after, church, relations, others remember Odukoya

    The sprawling auditorium of Fountain of Life Church Ilupeju, Lagos wore a beautiful look last Sunday.

    Everyone was gorgeously dressed and in high spirit as family members, associates and close relations remembered Pastor (Mrs.) Bimbo Odukoya, who died in the ill-fated Sosoliso Plane from Abuja-Port-Harcourt exactly 10 years ago.

    To lighten up the mood, her children Jimi and Tomi served as comperes.

    They cracked jokes with her mannerisms and ways of life, saying living with her was so much fun and impactful.

    They were smiles instead of tears; fond memories as against regrets and thanksgivings in place of depression.

    Those who spoke during the tribute sessions described her as a warm, kind-hearted, compassionate and faithful preacher whose life was consistent with her sermons.

    Her Sister-in-law, Mrs. Bola Orekoya (Nee Odukoya) recalled meeting the enigmatic marriage counsellor in 1982.

    The deceased, she testified, led her to Christ in 1984 following years of living with her.

    Describing Odukoya as an incredible soul winner, Orekoya said: “She was lovely but firmly against sins and compromises. She’d do anything for Christ.”

    She said they lived as sisters so much so that many thought her brother, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, is a brother-in-law.

    “I couldn’t have had a better Sister-in-law,” she stressed.

    Mrs. Bola Segun-Williams, who is married to the late Odukoya’s brother, said: “She was the most stress less sister-in-law in the world.

    “I see her every day in my husband; I see her every day in my children. I still dream about her at least once in a week. I pledge to continue the works she started.”

    Her sister, Lara, said: “Despite being the first of the family, my sister was my mentor. She radiated life and warmth. Her life was exemplary.”

    Pastor Ghandi Olaoye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG) Jesus House, United States of America recalled how he pulled a surprise by ensuring the late Odukoya attended and preached at the 40th birthday of his wife.

    “She was my wife’s role model. My wife hardly admires people that much. When she attended the birthday, my wife considered it the best gift for the occasion.”

    One of her A’level classmates at the Federal Girls College, Ijaniki Lagos, Pastor Yemisi, recalled how Pastor Bimbo, as she was fondly called, had always been elegant and admirable.

    “She was the first to give her life to Christ. When she did, she stopped partying with us and started praying for our salvation,” she began.

    She reeled out tales of how the deceased convinced the other four ladies to give their lives, stating “Bimbo lives in my heart and life.”

    Pastor Tayo Omotosho, who was one of the last persons to bid her farewell en route the ill-fated flight in Abuja, recalled how Pastor Bimbo radiated so much life and encouraged her to read Mathew 6:33 as she boarded.

    Her husband, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, said his consolation was that Bimbo left a legacy of righteousness and peace.

    He recalled how she casually said she would rather die first just few months before her demise, saying the trauma of living as a widow would shatter her life.

    Her first child, Tolu, literally brought down the house when she rendered some of Pastor Bimbo’s favourite gospel songs and compositions.

  • Joy as Adegbe offers succour to widows

    Hundreds of widows in Oshodi and its environs last Saturday smiled home with food stuffs and gift items courtesy of a faith-based organisation, Friends of Widows and Orphans Care Initiative.

    The gesture was aimed at offering them something to cheer about in the spirit of the Yuletide.

    Founder of the organisation, Dr Levi Adegbe, who is also the general overseer of Life Gate International Bible Ministry, said it’s been worth the while catering for widows in the last 15 years.

    He said the bags of rice and other food items were just symbolic of the special space they occupy in his mind and those of the supporters.

    The widows praised Adegbe for standing by them with words of encouragement and moral support.

    They said registering with the organisation has been more than helpful for their daily sustenance and medical state.

    Mrs. Eunice Eide, who has spent seven years with the organisation, described Adegbe as a trustworthy and faithful person.

    She said: “Pastor Adegbe is someone that God sent to us in Oshodi. If not because of him, we widows in Oshodi would have suffered a lot.

     “Pastor has always been there for us in terms of financial and moral support, I think he deserves a round of applause.”

    Mrs. Nko Emmanuel said apart from food items, the Kogi- born preacher also gives them money and trains widows on vocational handworks.

     “Since I joined this organisation, I never suffered because our pastor is always there for us to encourage us,” she stressed.

    Others who spoke said most of them have learnt handwork from the organisation which helped them to pay the schools fees of their children.

    Some of them said immediately they lost their husband, their families failed to support them financially.

     “In the lasts 15 years, we have given scholarship to widows’ children.

     “We also organised a workshop for widows to learn any handwork of their interest.

     “My job is to provide the logistics and resource persons that will train them,” said Adegbe, who called on Oshodi local council, Lagos Government, corporate organizations and philanthropists to come and assist the organisation to achieve its vision for the widows.

    He advised religious bodies and wealthy individuals to assist the widows in their communities.

    The preacher also advised young widows to remarry instead of being single parent forever.

  • Church celebrates Ayo-Vaughan

    The late Pastor Zaccheaus Ayo-Vaughan and his wife,  Elsie Arinola,  were last week remembered  at a memorial service held at the Orimolade Hall of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere.

    The service which attracted a large turnout was to celebrate the couple. Pastor Ayo-Vanghan died a year ago while Elsie died four years ago. The late Ayo-Vaughan was a journalist and pastor. He retired as the Director of Information in Lagos State Ministry of Information.

    A statement by Mr. Ayoola Omonigbehin said the general leader of the Church, Most Special Apostle Sunday Korode, urged Christians to emulate the true attributes of Jesus in their life and live holy.

     

  • Ojo to governors: Don’t reduce minimum wage

    Ojo to governors: Don’t reduce minimum wage

    The General Overseer and Presiding Bishop of Calvary Kingdom Church International, Archbishop Joseph Ojo, has charged state governors to jettison the idea of reducing the minimum wage of civil servants as that would  throw civil servants into greater hardship.

    Ojo said this last Sunday at the end of the year thanksgiving service of the church at the church headquarters in Lagos.

    The event which was tagged double grace pooled together thousands of Christian faithful, church leaders, captains of industries. It featured song renditions, prayers, thanksgiving, and bible teachings.

    He said that the present hardships facing Nigerians are enormous and reducing the minimum wage will further aggravate their suffering, groaning and frustration, and this could have serious effect on the polity.

    He noted that it is disheartening as state governors get over N100million as security votes and are not ready to reduce their votes to cater for the shortfall in the revenue accrued to their state but expect the civil servants to bear the brunt of the problem.

    “State governors must show empathy and good example by publicly declaring their security votes and reduce the same and let their salaries be equivalent with the salaries of the permanent secretaries in the interest of the hapless civil servants in their states,”he said.

    He opined that the state governors should look inward and raise funds through tax, public private partnership programmes, grants, cut down on unnecessary travels and block all the loop holes in their states so they can raise enough money to deliver on their campaign promises.

    On whether Nigerians will suffer a lot from the removal of oil subsidy, he said, “it will affect the common man but with time it will stabilise but nobody or group of persons should continue to eat fat on our common wealth.”

    He said oil subsidy is a scam and a fraudulent practice against the people of Nigeria.

    He said it is sad that middlemen are feeding fat on subsidy and many of the perpetrators belong to the various political divides which is injurious to the wellbeing of Nigeria.

    Secretary of the Pentecoatal Fellowship of Nigeria  asserted that the subsidy removed on diesel and kerosene has made the product available for Nigerians who need them.

    Ojo, declared that continuous long queues at our fuel/gas stations, bad road, dilapidated schools and gross underdevelopment ravaging our society need urgent attention in the interest of the people.

    He went further to charged Nigerians to continue to pray for the country and the new administration for it to succeed.

    He said, “people like us have hope and we are praying. Let us pray for the government to succeed and they will succeed and do the right thing. It is only the fool that will fail to pray but let the government do what is right.”

    Speaking on his 40th wedding anniversary, Ojo said that God has brought him and his wife together under a covenant of grace and they have been enjoying it for this long. God indeed has been faithful.

    He said that mutual and respectful relationship in a garden experience is very germane for the sustenance of a godly marriage.

    The cleric, who noted that there were times of storms in his marriage, said “trust, appreciation, love and living together without suspicion will keep the home even in the most turbulent times.”

     

  • Adeboye seeks higher budget allocation for education

    Adeboye seeks higher budget allocation for education

    The General Overseers of THE Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called on the federal government to increase the budgetary allocation to the educational sector as that would help improve the quatity and quality of schools available for Nigeria students.

    Adeboye made this known yesterday at the Special Thanksgiving and Prayer for students organised by the RCCG, Headquarters, Throne of Grace, Ebutte-Metta, Lagos.

    The programme tagged Power to Excel brought together thousands of Christian faithful,  students, vice chancellors, civil society groups, government functionaries, which featured prayers, bible teaching and prophetic ministration.

    According to him, the need for the creation of more public institutions of learning is germane because the present institutions in Nigeria are grossly inadequate to meet the demand of eligible students to acquire higher education.

    He said that it has become a recurring decimal as hundreds of thousands of students write and pass external examinations but cannot progress because of the limited number of institutions available to absolve them.

    Adeboye, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Personnel a nd Administration, Pastor Johnson Odesola, said that we need more public schools, more universities, colleges of education and technical schools that can absolve the growing number of young students in need of education to fulfill their dreams and aspiration.

    Asked whether the proliferation of private schools is welcome

    development for the educational sector, he said private schools are needed to help provide alternative for prospective students to access education but government continuous supervision should be thoroughly done for the maintenance of quality standard.

    “There is no institution that we have is sufficient. All the number of institutions that we have are not sufficient for the teeming number of eligible students who have grappled with the limited slots in schools,” he said.

    He noted that government should open its hands for people who want to set up private schools to do so, so that students who want to go to higher institutions and have the financial capacity to access the opportunities and potential in private schools can do without much problem.

    “I believe that government agencies can peg the amount of school fees to be paid by students in private universities which would help to provide lessen the burden of parents to pay”, he said. He also advised students to continue to exhibit the virtues of hardwork, focus, diligence, and God factor should not be ignored for them to excel in life.

    He said “Today, when I think back, it is the invisible hand of God that has been guiding me. That is why I am talking to someone today that if you want to excel and you haven’t surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, come and do so now. You cannot excel without him.”

    In his words, the Vice Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Prof Debo Adeyewa, called for a state of emergency in the educational sector so that our youth can have a sense of direction in life.

  • ‘Boko Haram insurgence is God’s punishment for Nigeria’s sins’

    Coordinator of an interdenominational prayer group, Women of Intercession International Fellowship (WIIF), Mrs. Patricia Eworo, has said that Boko Haram insurgent in the North Eastern Nigeria is God’s punishment for the many sins and oppression in Nigeria.

    She made the statement on the first day of the group’s end of the year programme in Lagos.

    Tagged “When the Woman is Weary,” itdrew a large turnout of participants from the Lagos metropolis and beyond.

    Eworo said, “In summary, the vision of this group is borne out of the Spirit of God to raise peculiar, sanctified and separated women who would touch God with their cry until a change comes.”

    According to Eworo, the group, which began ten years ago, meets three times a month to intercede. “We meet to intercede, we started ten years ago, and by the grace of God, we have diverse testimonies.” She added that “When the Buhari presidency was to come to being, God already showed us in the place of prayer.”

    She said further that “initially we were interceding for Edo State, but later that year, the Holy Spirit told me God does not only need intercessors for Edo State but He needs women who would yield their wombs to Him just like how we yield to our physical husbands, just like Mary yielded herself and gave birth to our Lord Jesus Christ. By the time I got that understanding, I started talking to women outside Edo State and the few that yielded have been unapologetic supportive of the vision.”

    Talking about various encounters of the ministry, Eworo said, “There was a year God gave a clear word that He was going to deal with this nation because of the iniquities. We went to Edo State, the ‘heart beat of the nation’ to go cry to God. That was about five years ago, we later invited women from the geo political zones of the nation to cry for mercy because that was very clear, that message came to us from one teenage girl.”

    Remembering her revelation about the current insurgents in the country, she said, “Before Boko Haram came, about seven years ago, God already showed it to us, I told my team and we were praying, I was seeing terrorism like the Al-Qaeda, but I didn’t understand it. We thought it was going to be in Lagos State, so we went to every road that leads to Lagos, and raised altars everywhere that terrorism must not enter Lagos. But by and large, here we are, there is Boko Haram, that is the weapon of God’s wrath and I still believe when women pray, God will have mercy.”

     

  • Receiving the impartation of the spirit of faith! (2)

    Last week, we began this teaching series with the understanding that faith is the master key to a world of unlimited breakthroughs. This is because our faith is what engenders our exploits on earth. We also defined “Impartation” as the tangible transmission of divine virtue from an anointed vessel to others. However, it is not enough to know what impartation is, we must know how to receive same. That is why this week, we shall be examining the covenant terms that guarantee our access to the impartation of the Spirit of Faith.

    • We must identify a carrier: It is common knowledge that people only give what they have. That means we cannot receive the Spirit of faith from someone who does not have it (Matthew 25:9; Acts 3:6).
    • Receive the person and ministry of the carrier: The Bible says: He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward… (Matthew 10:41; see also 2 Chronicles 20:20).
    • Crave for what he carries: From scriptures, we discover that every release of God’s Spirit answers to a craving, a thirst and a panting. In other words, it takes desperation to encounter impartation. Therefore, only those with a genuine crave get it. As it is written:

    In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified (John 7:37-39; see also Isaiah 44:3; Psalms 63:1-2).

    • We must honour the carrier in our hearts: We cannot partake of the virtue of the Prophet we do not honour in our hearts. Remember the Bible says:

    Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured (Proverbs 27:18; 2 Kings 3:11).  Unfortunately, this is a missing link in the present generation, where people lack honour for their God-sent Prophets and this has impeded access to the  virtues they carry (Ephesians 4:11-13; Matthew 13:57-58).

    • The Sonship connection: Apostles and Prophets are ordained spiritual fathers to whom they are sent. For instance, when Elisha saw the chariot of fire that came from heaven to pick Elijah, he said, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof….” In Bible history, Elisha was the biological son of Shaphat, but he found a father in Elijah and partook of his unction (2 Kings 2:12; see also 1 Kings 19:19, 2 Kings 6:21; Matthew 10:41; Acts 24:14).

    Thus, just as every child shares the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) of his/her father, every son/daughter of a Prophet is also entitled to the spiritual DNA of same. This is because every living thing always produces after its kind (Genesis 1:24-25).

    Furthermore, the Bible says: A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just (Proverbs 13:22; see also Genesis 1:24-25).

    That means just as inheritances are transferred from fathers to children naturally, virtues are also transmitted from prophets to spiritual sons and daughters. However, until we establish a sonship connection with them, we cannot partake of the virtue upon their lives. Therefore, we must become bona fide members of a spiritual family to partake of the unction therein and produce their kind of results. Remember, being close to a family does not qualify one for an inheritance; it is being a member that does. That is what makes the sonship connection the master key to automatic impartation of the Spirit of Faith (2 Samuel 21:16-19).

    God is restoring the mystery of spiritual fatherhood and sonship tie to the body of Christ, today. I pray that your own place will not be lost! (Malachi 4:5-6).

    As we all know, every giant is born of a giant. Similarly, every spiritual giant has a spiritual giant for a father. Therefore, just as an elephant does not struggle to be big but exhibits it size naturally, I see you producing results after your giant spiritual parents, in Jesus’ name!

    In conclusion, it is important to know that the mantle is one of the channels through which the Spirit of Faith is transmitted as we saw in the account of Aaron the Prophet. It is written: It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments (Psalms 133:2). This means that Prophets carry overflowing anointing and their garments are channels through which we can partake of same, for the rise of the giant in us. That is why God is restoring the ministry of Apostles and Prophets across the nations of the earth today (Ephesians 2:20; Hebrews 3:1-4). It is my prayer that you will locate your God-sent prophet on time, establish a sonship tie with him/her and be imparted with the Spirit of Faith at work in him/her to produce their kind of exploits! Remain every blessed!

    Are you born again? If you are yet to be, please say this prayer and you shall be born again: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!”

    For further reading, please get my books: Unlimited Power of Faith, Exploits Of Faith, The Law Of Faith.

    I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. respectively.

    I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

  • Iginla speaks on 80,000-capacity City of Wonders

    Iginla speaks on 80,000-capacity City of Wonders

    Leading prophetic voice and Shepherd in Charge of Champions Royal Assembly, Bro. Joshua Iginla, has finally broken the silence on the world record 80,000 sitting capacity auditorium known as City of Wonders that he is building in Kubwa, Abuja.

    The fiery prophet opened up on the cathedral that has stirred up a lot of envy in Christendom during the 9th anniversary of the ministry on Sunday, December 6, 2015 inside the city of Wonders. He cleared the air by admitting that the building is indeed a 80,000 seater designed by a Nigerian under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

    “I got the revelation about the City of Wonders in 1996. The whole building as it is now is just 13 months. A lot of people asked if it is indeed a 80,000 seater and I can tell them that indeed it is but you can’t describe it until you visit the place. Let me shock you more. This is not the promised land God is taking me too. The City of Wonder is just my primary school in the journey of my ministry. And by God’s grace, we never borrow a dime nor seek for any support from any politician. After the cross over night on December 31st, 2015 we will be using it as our permanent place of worship”.

    The multi-billion naira project is already roofed and only a visit to the ultramodern edifice can help one to grasp the extent of aesthetic wonders displayed over there and chunks of billions sunk inside the vast empire.

    Sitting on several hectares of land, the auditorium is a massive entity.  It’s like a four giant storey edifice with five detached elongated angles entangled to a singular auditorium.  Each of the gallery sits thousands of worshipers while each detached angles is a massive auditorium on its own.

    The roof of each compartment is like the Jewish temple, which speaks of wonders. A visit to the clergy’s office at the City of Wonders revealed that it is also a four floor edifice which strictly his office. When completed it will house his studio, computer room, control room, reception amongst others and has its own personal lift.

    The international headquarters of the ministry called Champions City of Wonders sited at Chikakore, Kubwa, Abuja is arguably a record breaking 80,000 capacity auditorium which is arguably the biggest in the world when completed. It sits on hectares of land with 350 toilets and four floors. Surprisingly, the world class ultra modern auditorium has 12 escalators, nine electronically operated elevators and three hectares of car park.

  • Receiving the impartation of the spirit of faith!

    Receiving the impartation of the spirit of faith!

    Faith is the master key to a world of unlimited breakthroughs. This is because our faith is what engenders our exploits on earth. Concerning the heroes of faith, the Bible says: And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. …And these all, having obtained a good report through faith… (Hebrews 11:32-33, 39; see also 2 Corinthians 4:13).

    This implies that faith is the foundation for all good reports and the maker of Kingdom stars. Furthermore, faith can be categorized into the following: A Measure, Little, Great and Supernatural faith (Romans 12:3; Matthew 8:23-26; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Matthew 15:12-21).

    We can grow our faith from “A Measure” to “Little” and then to “Great” faith by engaging revelations from scriptures, but Supernatural Faith is only accessible by impartation. This is because supernatural faith is a product of the impartation of the Spirit of Faith. In other words, we can’t study our way to supernatural faith; we can only be “imparted” by a carrier.

    Furthermore, the Spirit of faith enhances our capacity to believe whatsoever God says He would do in our lives. This, in turn, advances our destinies because we are only empowered to become whatever we believe. That is what makes “Supernatural Faith” or the impartation of the Spirit of faith the ultimate in the school of faith (2 Corinthians 4:13; Daniel 3:28; John 1:12; Luke 1:45).

    But, what is Impartation?

    • Impartation is simply the tangible transmission of divine virtue from an anointed vessel to others. The Bible says:

    And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses (Deuteronomy 34:9).

    • It is also the transmission of spiritual gifts from an anointed vessel to others. Remember, Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Church in Rome:

    For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established (Romans 1:11).

    • Impartation is the transmission of divine virtue into the situations of men. It is written:

    And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them (Acts 19:11-12).

    However, it is important to know that transferable virtues reside solely with the Apostles and Prophets because they belong to the high priestly ministry. For instance, it was said of Jesus, our High Priest: And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole (Matthew 14:35-36; see also Luke 6:19; Psalms 133:2).

    It is also written: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone (Ephesians 2:20). That means Apostles and Prophets belong to the same priestly ministry as Jesus and as such, they also possess transferable virtues for individuals, who desire same. For instance, in the account of Elijah and Elisha, we discover that Elisha passionately coveted the Spirit at work in Elijah and was imparted with it. As a result, Elisha manifested twice the number of Elijah’s miracles (2 Kings 2:9-15; Jude 1:3). This means that the Spirit of faith moves from one generation to another via the transference of spirit and impartation, and it is available to everyone who desires it.

    How, then, do we receive the Impartation of the Spirit of Faith?

    First, it is important to know that God, Himself, is the umpire over the mystery of impartation and the transference of spirits that are upon His anointed vessels. As it is written:  And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone (Numbers 11:16-17, 24-25) This implies that God alone determines who receives the transference of Spirits. As such, we must align ourselves according to His terms in order to benefit from same.

    Are you born again? If you are yet to be, please say this prayer and you shall be born again: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!”

    For further reading, please get my books: Unlimited Power of Faith, Exploits Of Faith, The Law Of Faith.

    The Winners’ Family is set for SHILOH 2015 captioned, From Glory To Glory, which holds at Faith Tabernacle Canaanland, Idiroko Road, Ota from December 8-12. The highlights of the event include: specialized healing services, ministers’ conference and more. It shall be a lifetime of encounter that will not leave you the same! Don’t miss it!

    I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

  • ‘Assemblies of God Church may not be the same again’

    ‘Assemblies of God Church may not be the same again’

    There have been many stories coming out of the Assemblies of God (Nigeria), very unbecoming news about the house of God. The embattled General Superintendent of the church, Professor (Reverend) Paul Emeka, during a recent visit to Warri, had an exclusive interview with BOLAJI OGUNDELE and threw more light on the crisis rocking the church. Excerpts:

    Do you think the Assemblies of God Church can remain the same again after this experience?

    Well, I think it should rather be, is it possible that we will come back again? To that, I say it is possible that we will still come back, but asking whether it will be the same or not, I will say yes and no. Yes, in the sense that we will come together because we are not going to change the doctrine of the Assemblies of God. No, in the sense that relationship that has been battered, it will take a long time for us to mend it and so we will not pretend about it. Assemblies of God cannot remain the same for a long time before we are able to put things in order.

    In some opinions, the church may continue to remain divided along ethnic and regional lines. Do you think this might be true?

    Well, some people intended it to be so but things are happening now that people across the tribes recognise the truth. There are people who noticed and they don’t care if their brother is holding falsehood, they will leave that their brother and go to stand with the person who holds the truth. To an extent, there are people who understand this but there are people who actually have understood that they should identify with the truth no matter the tribe they are coming from. For example, I am an Ibo man but here is Niger Delta and I tell you I draw the greatest support from these people. Also just like the man speaking has said in August, the 19 states in the north including the Middle Belt, the elders of the Assemblies of God gathered together in Jos and stood up to say that they are following and identify with the Assemblies of God under the leadership of Paul Emeka. The people are northerners and they don’t care where they are coming from, provided the truth is maintained.

    What exactly do you think is at the root of the crisis in the church?

    Well, it may not be one thing. Some people want position, some people have inordinate ambition for positions, others are greedy. They want to take advantage of their position to make money and when they feel that someone is blocking them, they want to kick me away. Somebody is happy if I am out that he will now come to take my position. Somebody is equally doing it because of envy. For example, somebody is saying openly that he stayed there for a very long time and did what he did, but I have come there and I have not stayed up to three years and I am doing so many things. Which means by the time I stay there for five years, nobody will remember him. But that is not my purpose; my purpose is not to forget anybody but just doing something I feel should be done. We should be able to somehow remain faithful to God and be ourselves and recognise the very fact that soldier go, soldier come. It is good for a man to know when it is time for him to quit. Let me say this also, that this godfatherism seems to be very inherent in the blood of Nigerians. Somebody lives and goes away, he will still wants to be controlling the system. That should be done away with, especially in the Church of God.

    What did you mean when you said those brewing the crisis are the thieves of the church, but not the church?

    I will expatiate because the constitution of the Bible outlines what is in the church, how things should be done, how you will call a meeting, how a meeting should be called, how to call a general committee. But there are certain people just because they called the name of Jesus, rose up and came to intimidate people just because of their age and numbers following a different thing that is not what the constitution says. In that case, we say this is not the Church, they are like players, children coming to the field of the Church and playing and mistakenly regarding themselves as the Church.

    Why do you think tussle for offices in the Assemblies of God Church gets this contentious, to the extent that supposed men of God employ all sorts of means, including diabolical and fatal resorts?

    The people who say that are correct; for a very long time this class of people have been doing it and getting away with it. They came this time and couldn’t get away with it. I think it is good to stop them and here are the group known as Ambassadors. Ambassadors that was initiated by my predecessor, we never knew was creating an extension of him so that with these people he will be controlling when he wants. So it started playing out, it did not start today; he has continued. But I must let you know the reason a thing like this continues in Nigeria and the Church inclusive, is that nobody has ever challenged it. When they do it, they will say for the sake of peace leave them and they go, they will come again. But to me, I say what is peace without justice? There must be justice before you have peace. You can’t see people who deliberately have stood up to steal the Church, to destroy the Church and you allow them and you allow them to take it for peace. They cannot, can you leave your business for a thief for the sake of peace? You must say no, especially in the business of God. So, these people have come to do that evil and we say no, we cannot allow that evil to thrive.

    Some have said this current crisis generated from conflicting pecuniary interests; you have yours and they have theirs. Is this true?

    I will say that would have been true if I was not legitimately voted in. Assemblies of God has a system and in that system every four (4) years they go for a general council election. I did not campaign. I was not the highest and biggest among the populace but what happened was that they elevated me, it was not a joke. The man following me scored 784 votes and I scored 4,075 votes to become what I am. I did not come here because I need money and again if you look at my records, you discover that though everybody uses money but I don’t pounce upon the money of the Church. So the person that says it is pecuniary interest is not correct, because, for me, I don’t agree with that. If I chose it because of money, it will really be the same. What is causing problem is that I have not allowed them to steal as much as they like, that is the truth. I know that all human beings are selfish by nature but as far as this matter is concerned it is not the interest of money that is keeping me to fight for it, not at all.

    How did you feel when you got to know you had been sued to a Sharia Court by some of your brethren?

    I did not feel too much surprised because of the antecedents of my opponents. They are very desperate people; they can go to any length to get it. So going to Sharia is just in the list of their plans. I felt that was abnormal anyway, but seeing the desperation in them, I wasn’t too surprised that they did it; it’s abnormal, it’s bad, it’s ungodly quite well because you want to get something that is just what I am saying. This book belongs to you, you paid for it or constitutionally you got it, it does not belong to me. If I rise up to struggle to get it, you cannot say I am struggling for it because of money; already it is for you, but me that is coming to take it from you because of money. So they are using every means to take it but they cannot get it.

    What did you mean when you said you did not plan to entirely stop them from stealing from the church, why stop them partially?

    That is a way. That is proverbial, proverbial in the sense that corruption in Nigeria cannot be removed completely and not even in the Church. Milly Graham said there is no perfect Church, that anytime you see a perfect Church and you join it, it automatically makes it imperfect that you are not perfect. Assemblies of God are not perfect and we know all this. Here and there people steal. Well, if you are stealing, stealing should be done secretly, when you come openly to do it, what you are trying to do is to legitimise it by making everybody believe is the right thing. If for example, I see you take my thing, you took it secretly I will begin a process of finding out but at least I know you recognise that this is evil that you are hiding it from me but when you take it boldly in my presence and put it in your pocket and use it as if it is yours; it is robbery, it’s no longer stealing and so it is a way of saying it is proverbial. My statement is proverbial.

    What is going on in the church-owned bank?

    Something is wrong whatever you can call it, you call it. But if I may not use the word thief or whatever I describe it for you to assess it yourself. Here, you open a business for 16 years and it has not yielded anything. What will you call the manager you entrusted it into his hands? No checking because my predecessor committed it into somebody’s hand to man and that is exactly what the AGS is saying when you begin to settle people, you give bank to somebody, give AGSBN to somebody. Why should you do it like that? There should be checks and balances. If you entrusted it into my hands as an individual a business worth 300 million, no amount of trust you have in me should make you leave me to do the thing, there must be checks and balances and now you have left it for me as a good Christian, a preacher for that matter. And for 16 years, I have not brought any returns and I am living well. What do you think it is? I am not the person saying he is a thief.